Supreme Court reduces transgender man’s sentence

Sentence of man who committed armed robbery when he still lived as a woman reduced from 15 months to 10 due to 'difficulties he will face in prison.'

17th September 2013 03:10

Alessia Valenza

The Supreme Court on Thursday reduced the sentence of a transgender man who took part in an armed robbery when he still lived as a woman. The judges took into consideration the fact that the man, who underwent an initial sex change operation, may face difficulties in jail due to Israel Prison Service (IPS) guidelines stating that inmates whose sexual identity is not clear be held in solitary confinement for fear they will be harmed.

In 2010 the transgender man and two other people robbed a convenience store at a gas station in Eilat by holding a knife to the storekeeper’s throat. The three fled the scene with NIS 1,000 ($280) in cash. They were each sentenced to 15 months in prison by the Beersheba District Court.